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Rules  and  Regulations 


OF  THE 


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Lutheran  Church, 


OF 


GERMAN  PROTESTANTS, 


Revised  on  the  23d  May,  1897, 


WITH  THE 


ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 


Press  of  the 

Walker,  Evans  &  Cogswell  Company, 
Charleston,  S.  C. 


THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  ILLINOIS 


LIBRARY 

ZM.I 

\3“\ 


Rules  and  Regulations 


OF  TIIE 


Lutheran  Church 


h  <y_,C' 

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OF 


GERMAN  PROTESTANTS, 


Revised  on  the  23d  May,  1897, 


WITH  THE 

'  *  ‘V 

ir  *. 

ACT  OF  INCORPORATION. 


Press  of  the 

Walker,  Evans  &  Cogswell  Company, 
Charleston,  S.  C. 


F/^4. 1 

I-TIM" 


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PASTORS  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  LUTHERAN  GHURGH. 

o . 


In  1734  Rev.  John  Martin  Bolzius,  the  pastor  of  the  exiled 
Salzburgers,  visited  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  administered  the 
Holy  Communion  to  a  small  band  of  Lutherans  whom  he 
found  domiciled  there. 

In  1742,  the  Lutherans  of  Charleston  were  visited  and  min¬ 
istered  unto  for  a  few  weeks  by  Rev.  Henry  Melchior 
Muhlenberg,  whose  mission  it  was  to  visit  and  organize  the 
Lutherans  in  this  country. 


1755  to 
1761  to 
1763  to 
1767  to 


9 

1760  -Rev.  John  George  Friederichs. 
1763  “  H.  G.  B.  Wordmann. 

1767  “  John  Nicholas  Martin. 

1770  “  John  Severin  Hahnbaum. 


1770  to  1774 
1774  to  1778 
1778  to  1781 
1781  to  1786 

1786  to  1787 

1787  to  1800 


“  Frederick  Daser. 

John  Nicholas  Martin. 
“  Christian  Streit. 

“  Frederick  Daser. 

“  John  Nicholas  Martin. 
“  John  Charles  Faber. 


1800  to  1805 — No  regular  pastor. 

1805  to  1811— Rev.  Matthew  Frederick  Chas.  Faber. 


1811  to  1815 — No  regular  pastor. 

1815  to  1874— Rev.  John  Bachman.* 


(On  8th  January,  1869,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Watkins  Hicks 
was  elected  as  Associate  Pastor,  and  during  that  year  he 
was  regularly  installed  as  such.  He  served  until  23d  Au¬ 
gust,  1870,  when  he  resigned.) 

1872  to  1876— Rev.  Thomas  W.  Dosii.f 
1876  to  1897  “  Edward  T.  Horn. 

1897  “  John  W.  Horine. 

*  In  1839  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Smith  was  engaged  as  an  Assistant,  and 
served  during  Dr.  Bachman’s  visit  to  Europe.  In  1870  Rev.  John  H. 
Honour  was  engaged  as  an  assistant,  and  served  for  some  time  there¬ 
after. 

■f  Rev.  Thos.  W.  Dosh  served  as  Associate  Pastor  from  1872  to  1874. 


< 


* 


V 


THE  CORPORATION. 


1785 . GEORGE  HAHNBAUM. 

1795  . DANIEL  STROBEL. 

1807 . . . JACOB  SASS. 

1836 . JACOB  F.  MINTZING. 

1842 . ...JOHN  STROHECKER. 

1849  . B.  F.  DUNKIN. 

1850  . ELIAS  HORLBECK,  M.  D. 

1855 . JACOB  F.  SCHIRMER. 

1869  . HENRY  COBIA. 

1870  . JOHN  H.  STEINMEYER. 

1878 . ROBERT  G-  CHISOLM. 


AN  ACT, 

FOR  INCORPORATING  DIVERS  RELIGIOUS  SOCIE¬ 
TIES  THEREIN  NAMED. 

STATE  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 


At  a  General  Assembly,  begun  and  holden  in  Charleston, 
on  Monday,  the  6th  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  in  the 
seventh  year  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  from  thence  continued,  by  divers  adjournments, 
to  the  2fith  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thou¬ 
sand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four. 

Whereas,  by  the  Constitution  of  this  State,  passed  the  10th 
day  of  March,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-eight, 
it  was  declared  that  all  denominations  of  Christian  Protest¬ 
ants  should  enjoy  equal  religious  and  civil  privileges ;  and 
that  whenever  fifteen  or  more  male  persons,  not  under 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  professing  the  Christian  Protestant 
Religion,  and  agreeing  to  unite  themselves  in  a  Society  for  the 
purpose  of  Religious  worship  (on  complying  with  the  terms 
therein  mentioned)  they  should  be  constituted  a  Church,  and 
to  be  esteemed  and  regarded  in  law  as  of  the  Established  Re¬ 
ligion  of  the  State;  and,  on  a  petition  to  the  Legislature 


6 


should  be  entitled  to  be  incorporated,  and  to  enjoy  equal 
privileges. 

And  whereas  the  several  societies  of  Christians,  who  call 
themselves  by  the  name  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  German 
Protestants  ;  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  City  of  Charles¬ 
ton  ;  the  Presbyterian  Church  on  Edisto  Island  ;  the  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  at  Wilton,  in  St.  PauPs  Parish  ;  the  Baptist 
Church  on  the  High  Hills  of  Santee ;  and  the  Presbyterian 
Church  on  Bullock's  Creek,  in  Camden  District;  have  petitioned 
the  Legislature  of  this  State,  praying  to  be  incorporated,  and 
asserting  they  have  complied  with  the  terms  required  by  the 
Constitution,  as  preparatory  thereto,  and  the  allegations  in 
the  said  petitions  appearing  to  be  true. 

I.  Be  it  therefore  enacted,  bv  the  Honorable  the 

’  •/ 

Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  now  met  and  sitting  in 
General  Assembly,  and  by  theauthority  ofthesame,  that  the 
several  and  respective  Societies  above  mentioned,  and  the 
several  persons  who  now  are,  or  shall  hereafter  be,  members 
thereof  respectively,  and  the  successors,  officers  and  members 
of  each  of  them,  shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby  declared  to  be 
severally,  one  body  corporate,  in  deed  and  in  name,  by  the 
name  and  style  of  “The  Lutheran  Church  of  German  Protest¬ 
ants “The  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  City  of  Charleston;'’ 
“The  Presbyterian  Church  on  Edisto  Island  ;”  “The  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  at  Wilton,  in  St.  Paul's  Parish;’'  “The  Baptist 
Church  on  the  High  Hills  of  Santee  ;"  and  “The  Presby¬ 
terian  Church  on  Bullock's  Creek,  in  Camden  District  ;"  and 
by  the  said  several  names  shall  each  have  perpetual  succes¬ 
sion  of  officers  and  members,  and  a  common  seal,  with  power 
to  change,  alter,  break  and  make  new  the  same,  as  often  as 
they,  the  said  corporations,  shall  severally  judge  expedient. 

And  each  of  the  said  corporations,  and  their  several  suc¬ 
cessors,  shall  be  able  and  capable  in  law  to  purchase,  have, 
hold,  receive,  enjoy,  possess  and  retain,  to  them  severalty, 
and  their  successors,  in  perpetuity,  or  for  any  term  of  years, 
any  estate  or  estates,  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments,  of 
what  kind  or  nature  soever;  and  to  sell,  alien,  exchange,  de- 


7 


mise  or  leave  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  as  they  shall 
think  proper,  and  by  each  of  their  said  names,  sue  and  be 
sued,  plead  and  be  impleaded,  answer  and  be  answered  unto, 
in  any  court  of  law  or  equity  in  this  State,  and  to  make  such 
rules  and  by-laws  (not  repugnant  and  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
the  land)  for  the  benefit  of  the  said  corporations,  severally, 
and  for  the  order,  rule,  good  government  and  management  of 
each  corporation,  and  for  the  election  of  ministers,  and  their 
maintenance,  out  of  any  funds  belonging  to  such  respective 
Societies,  for  erecting  and  reparation  of  Churches  by  each 
corporation  out  of  any  such  funds,  and  ascertaining  the  rents 
which  shall  be  paid  by  the  pew-holders,  in  such  a  manner  as 
shall  be  from  time  to  time  agreed  upon  by  a  majority  of  the 
members  of  each  respective  Society. 

II.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  each  corpora¬ 
tion  hereby  erected,  severally,  to  take  and  to  hold  to  them 
and  to  their  successors  forever,  any  charitable  donations  or 
devises  of  lands  and  personal  estates,  and  to  appropriate  the 
same  for  the  benefit  of  each  corporation,  in  such  manner  as 
may  be  determined  by  a  majority  of  the  members  thereof, 
and  to  appoint  and  choose,  displace,  remove  and  supply  min¬ 
isters,  officers,  servants,  and  other  persons  to  be  employed  in 
the  affairs  of  each  corporation,  and  to  give  such  salaries,  per¬ 
quisites  or  other  rewards  for  their  labor  or  service  therein  as 
each  corporation  shall  from  time  to  time  approve  of  and 
think  fit. 

III.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority 
AFORESAID,  That  each  corporation  as  aforesaid,  shall  be 
and  each  of  them  is  hereby  declared  able  and  capable 
in  law  to  have,  hold  and  receive,  enjoy,  possess  and 
retain,  all  such  other  estates,  real  and  personal,  mone  y, 
goods,  chattels  and  effects,  which  they  now  possess,  or  are 
entitled  unto,  or  which  have  been  already  given,  devised  or 
bequeathed,  to  either  of  them,  by  whatever  name  such  de¬ 
vise  or  bequest  may  have  been  made. 


8 


IV.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  afore¬ 
said,  That  this  Act  shall  be  deemed  and  taken  as  a  Public 
Act,  and  notice  shall  be  taken  thereof  in  all  Courts  of  Justice, 
and  elsewhere  in  this  State,  and  shall  be  given  in  evidence, 
on  the  trial  of  any  issue  or  cause,  without  special  pleading. 

In  the  Senate  House,  the  26th  dav  of  March,  A. 
D.  1784,  and  in  the  8th  year  of  the  Independ¬ 
ence  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

JOHN  LLOYD, 

President  of  the  Senate. 

HUGH  RUTLEDGE, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 


RULES 


OF  TIIE 

LUTHERAN  GHURGH  OF  GERMAN 

PROTESTANTS. 


PREAMBLE. 

The  earliest  rules  framed  for  the  government  of  this  Church 
of  which  any  record  remains,  were  adopted  in  the  year  1767. 
The  Church  was  afterwards  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
“The  Lutheran  Church  of  German  Protestants, ”  by  an  Act 
of  the  State  Legislature,  ratified  on  the  26th  March,  1784,  and 
new  rules  were  adopted  in  the  year  1786. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  corporation,  held  on  the  26th  Septem¬ 
ber,  1810,  other  rules  were  adopted.  These  rules  were  altered 
and  revised  at  meetings  held  on  the  3rd  March,  1818,  on  the 
11th  May,  18-16,  on  the  15th  May,  1859.  on  the  26th  April,  1869, 
and  on  the  23rd  May,  1897,  respectively.  The  rules  as  herein- 
below  set  forth  were  adopted  at  the  meeting  held  on  the  last 
named  date,  and  they  are  now  the  standing  and  governing 
rules  of  the  said  Church. 

The  original  Church  edifice  which  stood  in  the  rear  of  the 
present  structure,  and  in  which  the  congregation  first  wor¬ 
shipped,  was  consecrated  on  the  24th  June,  1764,  under  the 
name  of  “  St.  John’s  German  Church.”  The  present  Church 
edifice  was  consecrated  on  the  8th  January,  1818,  under  the 
name  of  “The  German  Lutheran  St.  John’s  Church.” 


10 


RULE  I. 

The  corporate  name  of  this  Church  as  set  forth  in  its  Char¬ 
ter  is  “The  Lutheran  Church  of  German  Protestants.” 

RULE  II. 

Th  is  Church  is  organized  for  the  worship  of  Almighty  God 
according  to  the  faith,  doctrine,  discipline  and  usages  of  The 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  It  accepts  the  canonical  books 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  as  the  Word  of  God,  and  the 
only  rule  of  faith  and  life,  and  the  confessions  of  the  Evangel¬ 
ical  Lutheran  Church,  especially  the  unaltered  Augsburg 
Confession  and  Luther’s  Small  Catechism,  as  a  correct  expo¬ 
sition  of  that  Word.  With  this  rule-and  these  confessions  all 
books  of  worship  and  instruction  in  the  congregation  and  its 
schools  shall  conform.  And  the  services  of  this  Church  shall 
always  be  in  accordance  with  the  Common  Service  now  in  use, 
or  as  it  may  hereafter  be  amended  by  competent  authority. 

RULE  III. 

1.  All  persons  at  present  members  of  “  The  Lutheran  Church 
of  German  Protestants,”  may  remain  such  so  long  as  they  con¬ 
form  to  these  rules  and  continue  to  pay  such  dues,  assess¬ 
ments  or  contributions  as  now  are,  or  hereafter  may  be  pre¬ 
scribed  by  these  rules  or  by  competent  authority. 

2.  The  Vestry  and  Wardens  are  authorized  to  declare  by  a 
special  minute  on  theirjournal,  widows  and  orphans  of  mem¬ 
bers  as  well  as  unmarried  females  confirmed  in  the  Church, 
entitled  to  the  privileges  of  the  same  without  contribution; 
but  this  privilege  shall  not  exempt  them  from  paying  the  as¬ 
sessment  on  any  pew  they  may  hold. 

3.  All  persons  who  have  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be  con¬ 
firmed  in  this  Church,  or  who  have  been  or  shall  hereafter 
be  received  by  the  Church  council  from  other  congregations, 
shall  be  members  of  this  congregation,  subject  to  the  provi¬ 
sions  of  these  rules. 

4.  As  such  they  shall  be  entitled  to  participate  in  the  pub¬ 
lic  services  of  the  Church  and  to  receive  the  Holy  Commun- 


11 


ion,  to  call  for  the  Pastor’s  services  when  needed,  to  apply  for 
relief  in  poverty,  to  receive  a  certificate  of  honorable  dismissal 
to  another  congregation  of  the  same  faith,  and  to  have  the 
use  of  the  Church  for  a  marriage  or  a  funeral  service. 

5.  From  and  after  the  first  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1807, 
every  member  of  the  Church  shall  be  assessed  One  Dollar  per 
annum  as  a  membership  fee,  in  addition  to  such  dues,  pew 
rentals  and  benevolent  contributions,  which  lie  or  she  may 
pay.  This  fee  shall  be  collected  by  the  Treasurer  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  pew  rents. 

0.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  to  avoid  all  conduct  un¬ 
becoming  a  Christian,  and  to  lead  a  circumspect  and  godly 
life.  For  a  wilful  violation  of  this  rule,  persisted  in  after  ad¬ 
monition.  a  member  may  be  suspended  by  the  Church  coun¬ 
cil. 

7.  The  male  white  members  of  the  Congregation  who 
shall  have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  shall 
have  communed  within  two  years  preceding  any  meeting  or 
election  of  this  Church,  shall  be  qualified  to  vote  at  any  such 
meeting  or  election  ;  provided  that  they  shall  have  then  been 
members  for  the  period  of  one  year  next  preceding  the  same, 
and  shall  not  be  in  arrears  for  their  dues,  pew  rentals,  or 
assessments  for  a  longer  period  than  six  months  prior  thereto. 

8.  A  meeting  of  the  members  may  be  called  at  anv  time  by 
order  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  and  shall  be  called  by  the 
President  whenever  he  may  be  thereunto  requested  in 
writing  by  twelve  or  more  members. 

RULE  IV. 

1.  On  the  Faster  Monday  next  after  the  adoption  of  these 
Rules,  there  shall  be  an  election  by  ballot  for  a  President, 
Treasurer,  Secretary,  six  Vestrymen  (or  Elders,)  and  three 
Wardens  (or  Deacons  )  And  after  the  declaration  of  the  elec¬ 
tion,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  newly  elected  Vestry  and 
Wardens,  that  body  shall  be  divided  by  lot  into  three  classes, 
each  composed  of  two  Vestrymen  and  one  Warden  ;  and  the 
first  class  shall  hold  office  three  years;  the  second,  two  years; 
and  the  third,  one  year. 


12 


2.  And  annually  there-after  on  Easter  Monday,  there  shall 
be  an  election  by  ballot  for  President,  Secretary,  Treasurer, 
two  Vestrymen  (or  Elders,)  and  one  Warden  (or  Deacon.) 
These  Vestrymen  and  the  Warden  so  elected  shall  hold 
office  for  the  period  of  three  years,  and  until  their  successors 
shall  be  elected.  The  President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
shall  hold  office  for  one  year,  and  until  their  successors  shall  be 
elected.  All  the  officers  of  the  Church  shall  be  eligible  to 
re-election. 

3.  The  President  shall  be  ex-officio  a  Vestryman,  and 
shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Vestry  and  of  the  Congre¬ 
gation.  He  shall  also  be  a  member  of  the  Church  Council. 

4.  At  three  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  of  the  elec¬ 
tion,  the  members  of  the  congregation  shall  meet  to  receive 
the  result  of  the  election  from  the  managers  who  shall  declare 
such  result.  Those  having  a  plurality  of  votes  shall  be  de¬ 
clared  duly  elected  ;  and  in  the  event  of  there  not  being  a  con¬ 
stitutional  number  elected,  another  election  shall  be  held 
within  a  month  thereafter,  in  order  to  complete  the  number 
required.  The  result  of  the  election  shall  also  be  published 
by  the  Pastor  to  the  congregation  on  the  next  Sunday  there¬ 
after. 

5.  Should  any  office  become  vacant  by  death,  resignation, 
forfeiture  or  removal  from  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  an  elec¬ 
tion  to  fill  the  same  shall  be  held  within  one  month  from  the 
date  of  such  vacancy,  and  said  election  shall  be  conducted  as 
above  provided. 

6.  No  person  shall  be  qualified  to  hold  any  of  the  above 
mentioned  offices,  unless  he  shall  have  been  a  member  for 
the  period  of  two  years  next  preceding  the  day  of  the  elec¬ 
tion. 

7.  On  the  Sunday  after  the  election  the  President,  Ves¬ 
try  and  Wardens  elect  shall  be  installed  by  the  Pastor  in  the 
presence  of  the  congregation,  according  to  the  service  in  the 
Book  of  Worship,  the  President  and  Vestrymen  as  Elders, 
and  the  Wardens  as  Deacons. 


13 


RULEV.  7, 

1.  The  Vestry  and  Wardens  shall  hold  a  stated  meeting  on 
the  first  Friday  after  the  general  election,  also  within  the  first 
or  second  week  of  July  and  January  in  every  year,  to  receive 
the  Treasurer’s  report  of  moneys  collected  and  paid  out.  and 
to  transact  such  other  business  as  may  come  before  them,  or 
be  required  of  them  in  these  Rules.  They  shall  likewise  hold 
such  extra  meetings  as,  to  a  majority  of  their  body,  may  ap¬ 
pear  necessary,  or  as  may  be  called  by  the  President.  They 
shall  not  proceed  to  business  unless  six  be  present,  and  all 
questions  before  them  shall  be  decided  by  a  majority  of  the 
votes  of  those  present.  They  shall  have  the  charge  of,  and 
power  to  manage  and  regulate  the  finances  of  the  Church, 
shall  insure  the  buildings  and  keep  the  same  in  proper 
repair,  and  rent  out  such  of  them  as  are  not  designed 
for  the  public  use  of  the  Church,  or  not  required  for  the  ac¬ 
commodation  of  either  of  the  officers.  They  shall  provide 
from  time  to  time  such  articles  as  may  be  needed  for  the  ser¬ 
vice  of  the  Church,  or  conducive  to  its  interest,  and  shall  fix 
the  rates  of  pew  rents.  They  shall,  at  their  first  meeting 
after  the  general  election,  elect  the  Organist  and  Sexton, 
and  provide  for  a  choir,  whose  term  of  service  shall  be 
until  a  similar  meeting  the  ensuing  year,  and  shall  lay 
down  what  duties  are  to  be  performed  by  them,  and  may 
discharge  either  of  them,  at  any  time,  for  any  misconduct 
or  neglect  of  duty.  They  shall  lay  before  and  submit  to 
the  members  of  the  Church,  at  their  meeting  on  Faster  Mon¬ 
day,  or  at  an  extra  meeting  that  may  be  called  for  special 
purposes,  their  proceedings,  as  well  as  other  matters  of  im¬ 
portance  in  which  the  Church  may  be  interested. 

2.  The  S^estrymen  shall  meet  under  the  presidency  of  the 
Pastor  as  a  Church  Council,  to  admit  members,  to  grant  let¬ 
ters  of  dismissal,  to  consider  and  decide  cases  of  discipline, 
and  to  advise  the  Pastor  in  the  spiritual  concerns  of  the 
Church.  They  shall  not  proceed  to  business  unless  four  of 
their  number  and  the  Pastor  be  present. 

3.  The  Vestry  and  Wardens  shall  elect,  or  may  authorise 
the  President  to  appoint,  a  Delegate  to  represent  the  congre- 


14 


gation  in  the  annual  Conventions  of  the  Synod,  and  his  neces¬ 
sary  expenses  shall  be  paid. 

RULE  VI. 

1.  The  President  shall  cause  the  Vestry  and  Wardens  to  be 
duly  summoned,  whenever  a  stated  or  extra  meeting  of  their 
Board  is  to  be  held.  He  shall  also  cause  due  notice  to  be 
given  to  the  congregation,  whenever  a  general  meeting  of  the 
members  is  to  be  held.  He  shall  preside  at  all  such  meetings, 
and  preserve  order  and  decorum.  He  shall  appoint  all  com¬ 
mittees  of  the  Board  of  Vestry  and  Wardens,  draw  orders  on 
the  Treasurer  for  the  payment  of  moneys  which  may  be  or¬ 
dered  paid  by  the  said  Board,  and  for  the  payment  of  the 
salaries  of  the  officers,  whenever  due  ;  and  he  shall  exercise 
such  other  powers,  and  perform  such  functions  as  are  al¬ 
lotted  to  him  in  any  part  of  these  Rules. 

2.  Should  the  President  be  absent  from  any  meeting  of  the 
Vestry  or  Congregation,  the  members  present  shall  appoint 
a  President.pro  tern.  ;  and  should  his  office  become  vacant 
before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  the  Secretary 
shall,  without  delay,  summon  the  congregation,  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  electing  another  President,  to  fill  the  vacancy  for  the 
unexpired  term  of  service.  The  said  election  shall  be  con¬ 
ducted  in  the  same  manner  as  the  annual  election. 

RULE  VII. 

The  Treasurer  shall  have  charge  of  the  title  deeds,  special¬ 
ties,  and  investments  of  the  corporation,  and  such  sacred  ves¬ 
sels  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  Church,  as  are  not  left 
with  the  Minister  or  Sexton.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Vestry  and  Wardens  after  each  annual  election,  he  shall  lay 
before  them  his  annual  account  with  the  Church.  The 
Treasurer  elect  shall,  within  a  week  after  his  election,  deliver 
to  the  President  a  list  of  the  several  articles  and  species  of 
property  placed  in  his  possession,  belonging  to  the  Church, 
which  list  the  Secretary  shall  enter  in  the  journals.  He  shall, 
at  every  meeting  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  lay  before 


15 


them  a  statement  of  moneys  received  and  paid  away  on 
account  of  the  Church,  since  the  meeting  last  held,  together  witlT 
the  balance  then  in  his  hands.  He  shall  collect  the  pew  rents, 
contributions,  rents,  membership  fees  and  other  incomes, 
also,  the  principal  sums  of  bonds  and  notes,  which  the  Vestry 
and  Wardens  may  order  to  be  called  in.  He  shall  pay  all  de¬ 
mands  against  the  Church  upon  orders  drawn  upon  him  by  the 
President,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  are  enjoined  on 
him  in  any  part  of  these  Rules,  or  as  may  appertain  to  his 
office.  In  compensation  for  his  services,  he  shall  be  entitled 
to  a  commission  of  five  per  cent,  on  all  moneys  received,  ex¬ 
cept  legacies  or  donations.  Should  the  Treasurer  resign  or 
die  before  the  expiration  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected, 
a  new  election,  to  be  conducted  as  provided  for  above,  shall 
be  held  within  one  week  thereafter,  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The 
Treasurer  shall  give  bond,  with  sufficient  security,  to  be 
approved  by  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  for  the  faithful  per¬ 
formance  of  his  duties. 


RULE  VIII. 

The  Secretary  shall  keep  fair  and  regular  minutes  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  and  of  those  of  the 
Congregation  at  their  stated  and  extra  meetings.  He  shall 
transcribe  the  same  in  the  journals  of  the  Church,  and  per¬ 
form  any  other  writing  that  the  Vestry  and  Wardens  may 
direct.  He  shall  keep  a  regular  book  of  accounts  of  pew 
rents,  membership  fees,  and  contributions,  and  furnish 
the  'Treasurer,  by  the  first  of  March,  June,  September 
and  December  in  every  year,  with  a  list  of  pew  holders, 
and  members,  and  of  the  sum  then  due  by  each,  respec¬ 
tively.  He  shall  have  charge  of  the  book  containing  the 
Rules,  which  together  with  the  journal,  he  shall  produce  at 
every  meeting  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  or  of  the  Congre¬ 
gation.  He  shall  likewise  produce  at  the  Church,  on  the 
first  Sunday  of  every  month,  after  divine  service,  the  Rule 
book.  Opposite  to  the  name  he  shall  note  the  date 
when  persons  became  members;  when  a  member  resigned, 
died,  or  was  declared  by  the  Vestry  and  Wardens  to 


16 


have  forfeited  his  or  her  right  as  such.  He  shall  also  have  in 
charge,  for  safe  keeping,  all  written  communications  addressed 
to  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  and  perform  any  other  duty  that 
may  be  enjoined  on  him  by  these  Rules. 

RULE  IX. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Wardens  to  maintain  order  and 
tranquility  during  service.  They,  together  with  one  member, 

(to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  President,)  shall  hold 
the  election  on  Kaster  Monday,  which  is  provided  for  in  Rule 
IV  hereof ;  they  shall  open  the  poll  in  the  Church  or  Lecture 
Room  at  one  o’clock,  P.  M.,  on  that  day,  and  keep  the  same 
open  two  hours,  when  they  shall  declare  the  result  of  the  • 
election  and  forthwith  report  the  same  to  the  congregation 
and  to  the  Pastor.  They  shall  attend  to  all  collections  made 
at  the  Church  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  re¬ 
quired  of  them  by  these  Rules,  by  the  Vestry  or  by  the  Con¬ 
gregation. 


RULE  X. 

1.  Every  holder  of  a  pew,  or  part  of  a  new,  shall  pay,  in  the 
months  of  March,  June,  September  and  December,  such  rent 
for  the  same  as  may  then  be  due.  Every  person  hereafter 
becoming  a  pew  holder  or  a  member  shall  pay  a  proportionate 
share  of  the  pew  rent  or  of  the  membership  fee  according 
to  the  time  he  or  she  has  been  such. 

2.  No  pew  shall  be  rented  to  more  than  two  persons,  and  in 
every  case  where  a  person  shall  rent  but  the  half  of  a  pew, 
should  an  application  be  made  for  the  whole  pew,  the  holder 
of  the  half  shall  have  the  prior  right  to  rent  the  whole,  and 
if  he  or  she  shall  decline  doing  so,  the  half  pew  shall  be 
vacated,  and  the  whole  pew  shall  be  rented  to  the  person  thus 
applying.  This  regulation,  however,  shall  not  affect  any  per¬ 
sons  holding  half  pews  on  the  adoption  of  this  Rule.  And  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  hereafter,  in  renting  half 
pews,  to  inform  the  parties  so  renting  of  this  Rule. 

3.  Pew-holders  neglecting  to  pay  their  assessments  for  six 


17 


months  after  the  same  shall  have  become  due,  shall  forfeit 
their  right  to  the  pews. 

4.  In  case  of  the  death  of  a  pew-holder,  his  widow  or 
children  shall  have  a  right  to  retain  the  pew,  or  the 
half  of  the  pew,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  rule,  as 
long  as  she  or  they  continue  to  pa}'  the  assessment  thereon; 
and  should  a  part  of  a  pew  become  vacant,  the  other  occupant 
or  occupants  (if  members)  shall  have  a  right  to  such  vacant 
part  on  continuing  to  pay  the  rent. 

5.  No  pew-holder  shall  transfer  his  pew,  or  any  part  thereof 
to  any  other  person  than  a  member,  without  the  consent  of  the 
Vestry  and  Wardens.  A  pew-holder  making  a  transfer  shall, 
without  delay,  notify  the  Secretary  of  the  same. 

6.  Applications  for  pews  must  be  made  to  the  Secretary. 
Every  applicant  shall  be  accommodated  in  the  order  of  the 
date  of  his  application  ;  but  members,  or  the  widows  and 
children  of  members,  shall  always  have  a  prior  right  to  an 
applicant  not  a  member. 


RULE  XI. 

1.  The  Minister  shall  perform  divine  service  in  the  English 
language,  on  every  Sunday,  and,  if  capable,  he  shall  perform 
the  same  in  the  German,  whenever  required  by  the  Vestry 
and  Wardens.  He  shall  also  officiate  in  the  morning  of  every 
fast  and  thanksgiving  day  that  may  be  recommended  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  the  Governor  of  this  State,  or 
the  City  Council  of  Charleston.  He  shall  administer  the 
Lord’s  Supper  on  Easter  and  Whitsunday,  Christinas  Day  or 
the  Sunday  preceding,  on  the  first  Sunday  of  February,  the 
first  Sunday  of  August,  the  first  Sunday  of  October,  and  at 
such  other  times  as  he  may  deem  necessary.  He  shall  instruct 
in  Luther’s  Small  Catechism,  such  as  may  be  put  under  his 
charge,  for  public  confirmation,  and  for  admittance  to  the 
participation  of  the  Lord’s  Supper.  He  shall  regularly  and 
carefully  keep  the  Church  register,  containing  the  baptisms, 
confirmations,  marriages  and  funerals  of  members,  their  fami¬ 
lies,  and  others  that  may  be  baptised,  confirmed,  married  or 
buried  by  him.  He  shall  furnish  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  at 


18 


their  meetings  in  July  and  January,  with  a  list  of  funerals 
that  may  have  taken  place  in  the  Church  during  those  periods, 
and  in  order  to  have  said  list  prepared,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Secretary  to  give  him  one  week’s  notice  of  the  day  of  such 
meeting.  He  shall  exercise  such  other  functions  as  appertain 
or  are  incident  to  the  duties  of  a  clergyman.  He  shall  hold 
his  office  during  good  behavior,  and  be  considered  a  member 
of  the  Church  without  contributing  to  the  same,  but  without 
being  eligible  as  a  V estryman  or  Warden.  He  may  be  present 
and  give  his  opinion,  but  shall  not  have  a  vote  at  any  meeting 
of  the  congregation  or  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens.  Any  com¬ 
munication  which  he  may  make  in  writing  to  the  Vestry  and 
Wardens,  or  to  the  congregation  shall  receive  due  attention. 
He  shall  always  have  free  access  to  the  Rule  and  Minute 
books.  He  shall  receive  from  the  funds  and  income  of  the 
Church  such  salary  as  he  may  from  time  to  time  agree  upon 
with  the  Vestry  and  Wardens. 

2.  Should  the  office  of  Pastor  become  vacant,  the  Vestry  and 
Wardens  shall,  as  soon  as  possible,  nominate  to  the  Congre¬ 
gation  a  suitable  person  for  that  office.  The  election  shall  be 
by  the  qualified  voters  of  the  Congregation,  by  ballot  for  or 
against  the  person  placed  in  nomination,  and  two-thirds  of 
the  \otes  cast  shall  be  necessary  to  elect  him.  No  person 
shall  be  chosen  or  installed  Pastor  of  the  Congregation,  unless 
he  is  a  member  in  good  standing  of  an  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Synod,  and  receives  and  adheres  to  the  doctrinal  basis  of  the 
Congregation  which  is  set  forth  in  Rule  second  hereof. 

3.  Should,  however,  the  person  so  nominated  for  the  office  of 
Pastor  fail  to  be  elected,  the  Vestry  and  Wardens  shall  as 
soon  as  possible  again  nominate  some  suitable  person  for 
the  office,  and  so  continue  until  a  Pastor  shall  have  been 
chosen. 


RULE  XII. 


The  Organist  shall  attend  in  the  morning  and  afternoon  of 
every  Sunday,  and  on  such  holidays,  fast  or  thanksgiving 
days  when  service  is  to  be  performed  in  the  Church.  The 
Organist  shall  attend  every  funeral  if  required  to  officiate, 


19 


and  perform  such  other  duties  appertaining  to  the  oflice  as 
may  be  required  by  the  Vestry  and  Wardens,  and  shall  not 
be  eligible  to  any  other  office.  The  salary  of  the  Organist 
shall  be  such  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Vestry  and 
Wardens. 


RULE  XIII. 

The  Sexton,  shall,  at  all  times,  keep  the  Church  and 
Church-yard  clean  and  in  proper  order.  He  shall  cause  the 
bell  to  be  lung,  and  the  Church  gates  to  be  opened,  before  the 
commencement  of  every  service.  He  shall  attend  whenever 
service  is  to  be  performed,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the 
Wardens  in  preserving  order  and  tranquility.  He  shall 
take  care  of  such  articles  belonging  to  the  Church  as  may  be 
placed  in  his  charge.  He  shall  attend  all  funerals,  and, 
if  required,  invite  to  them  the  members  of  the  Church, 
together  with  such  families  and  persons  as  may  be  directed 
by  the  friends  of  the  deceased.  He  shall  apprize  the 
Minister  and  Organist  of  the  time  and  place,  when¬ 
ever  their  services  are  required  at  any  funeral.  He  shall 
cause  the  graves  to  be  dug,  and  of  a  legal  depth  ;  enter  in  a 
book,  to  be  kept  by  him,  a  list  of  all  funerals,  with 
the  name,  age  and  sex  of  the  deceased  ;  and  he  shall  produce 
the  said  book  at  every  meeting  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens. 
He  shall  receive  the  funeral  emoluments,  and  pay  the  same 
over  to  the  Treasurer,  at  or  before  the  next  meeting 
thereafter  of  the  Vestry  and  Wardens.  He  shall  have  the 
Church  opened  in  due  time,  when  a  meeting  of  the 
Vestry  and  Wardens,  or  of  the  Congregation,  is  to  take 
place,  and  have  the  same  properly  shut  after  all  meetings. 
He  shall  cause  the  bell  to  be  rung  at  every  alarm,  and  perform 
any  other  duty  that  may  be  required  of  him  by  virtue  of  ihese 
Rules,  and  that  may  appertain  to  his  cflice,  or  that  may 
be  specified  by  the  Vestry  and  Wardens.  He  shall  receive 
such  salary  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Vestry  and  Ward¬ 
ens,  and  shall  not  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  Vestryman  or 
Warden. 


20 


RULE  XIV. 

A  collection  shall  be  taken  up  every  Sunday  during  the 
morning  service  for  the  benefit  of  the  treasury  of  this  Church. 
The  proceeds  of  the  collections  taken  up  on  those  Sundays  on 
which  the  Lord’s  Supper  shall  be  administered  shall  be  re¬ 
ceived  by  the  Committee  on  the  Alms  Fund,  and  such 
amounts,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Vestry  and  Ward¬ 
ens,  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  indigent  members  and 
their  families,  dependent  on  the  bounty  of  the  Church. 

RULE  XV. 

•  t 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Vestry  and  Wardens 
after  their  election  the  following  Committees  shall  be  ap¬ 
pointed  by  the  President  : 

1.  A  Committee  on  Finance,  to  consist  of  three  members, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  examine  and  report  upon  all  ac¬ 
counts  and  matters  of  finance  which  may  be  referred  to  them 
by  the  Board. 

2.  A  Committee  on  Repairs,  to  consist  of  three  members, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  arrange  for  all  repairs  to  the  Church 
property,  which  the  Board  may  from  time  to  time  direct  to 
be  made,  as  well  as  such  as  might  require  immediate  atten¬ 
tion  prior  to  any  action  of  the  Board. 

3.  A  Committee  on  the  Alms  Fund,  to  consist  of  three 
members,  whose  duty  if  shall  be  to  take  charge  of  all  collec¬ 
tions  made  for  indigent  members,  and  to  apportion  the  same 
among  the  beneficiaries. 

4.  A  Committee  on  Benevolence,  to  consist  of  three  mem¬ 
bers,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  see  that  proper  arrangements 
are  made  for  collecting  and  dispensing  the  benevolent  con¬ 
tributions  of  the  congregation,  as  well  as  the  annual  synodical 
assessments. 

The  Board  may  appoint  such  additional  Committees  as  may 
be  deemed  proper. 


21 


RULE  XVI. 

1.  In  cases  of  funerals  no  charge  shall  be  made  for  members 
or  their  families,  but  for  strangers,  if  permission  has  been  ob¬ 
tained  from  the  President  for  interment  in  the  Church-yard, 
the  Sexton  shall  demand  in  advance  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars. 

2.  By  the  words  “  families  of  members  n  are  to  be  considered, 
first,  all  minors  residing  with  and  dependent  upon  a  member 
for  support ;  second,  all  unmarried  females,  or  widows  who 
have  no  exclusive  property  of  their  own,  and  are  dependent 
upon  said  member  for  a  support. 

3.  No  funeral  shall  take  place  unless  the  Minister  of  the 
Church  be  invited  to  attend,  and  no  permission  shall  be  given 
for  the  interment  of  persons  of  color  in  the  Church-yard. 

RULE  XVII. 

The  foregoing  Rules  may  be  altered,  or  any  new  one  adopt¬ 
ed,  provided  that  each  alteration  or  addition  be  considered  at 
one  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Church,  and  then  submit¬ 
ted  to  a  committee  of  nine,  who  shall  report  on  the  propriety 
of  such  alteration  or  addition,  at  a  general  meeting  of  the 
members  called  to  take  action  on  said  report  ;  notice  of  said 
general  meeting  to  be  published  from  the  pulpit  for  two 
Sundays  previous  thereto.  On  the  question  to  concur  in  anv 
alteration,  or  in  the  establishment  of  any  new  Rule,  at 
least  twenty-five  members  shall  be  present,  and  not  less 
than  two-thirds  of  those  present  must  give  their  assent 
to  such  alteration  or  addition.  And  at  all  other  meetings, 
fifteen  members  shall  be  present  to  form  a  quorum  to  transact 
business.  But  no  alteration  or  additional  Rule  shall  ever  be 
made,  by  virtue  whereof  the  Church  might  become  any  other 
than  a  Lutheran. 

RULE  XVIII. 

For  the  just  and  true  performance  of  all  and  every  part  of 
this  Constitution  and  of  all  the  articles,  regulations  and  agree¬ 
ments  formed  in  pursuance  thereof,  the  members  composing 


22 


this  congregation  bind  themselves,  and  each  and  every  of 
them  respectively  by  these  presents,  to  observe,  support  and 
comply  with  the  same.  All  rules  and  regulations  inconsistent 
with  these  rules  are  hereby  abrogated,  and  the  former  origi¬ 
nal  and  by-rules  are  hereby  declared  to  be  altered  and 
amended,  as  herein  set  forth  ;  but  nothing  herein  contained 
shall  extend  or  be  construed  to  extend,  to  impair  the  right  of 
the  Church  to  any  claim  or  demand  that  may  be  due  thereto, 
underand  by  virtue  of  the  former  rules  and  regulations  ;  all 
which  claims  and  demands  shall  be  as  valid  as  though  the  said 
rules  and  regulations  were  still  in  force.  And  the  members  also 
agree  that  any  rules  hereafter  to  be  made  conformably  to  this 
Constitution,  shall  be  taken  and  regarded  by  them,  and  every 
one  of  them,  to  be  of  equal  force  and  as  binding  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  as  these  rules. 


